Tag: Anxiety
What is Echolalia? And Can It Hold Your Child Back?
Takeaway: All children mimic and echo the things they hear. It’s called echolalia and it’s how they learn a language. But some children rely on it too much and it prevents them from truly expressing themselves. As a parent, you can learn to decode what your child is saying, but a skilled speech therapist can help you uncover and address the deeper issues at play. Read More
Does Autism Mask Some Mental Health Issues?
Takeaway: Children with autism are usually quite solitary and emotionally withdrawn, making it harder to spot mental health issues. And they’re especially vulnerable to conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, it’s worth finding a team of specialists who can support you and put together a comprehensive care plan for your child. Read More
Why Do Some Children Take Longer to Process Things?
Takeaway: Some children are slower to get things done because their brains are wired differently. This ‘slow processing speed’ can be frustrating, but with the right help, your child can learn to adapt and thrive. Read More
Why Autism Can Affect Your Child’s Sleeping Habits
Takeaway: Autism is a developmental difference that gives your child a unique set of traits — some empowering, some challenging. Often, the more challenging traits can disrupt your child’s sleep which in turn magnifies those traits in a vicious cycle. The great thing, though, is that there are things you can do at home to help your child sleep better. And for more severe sleep issues you can consult a child psychologist, who’ll have a whole different set of techniques to work with. Read More
What is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
Takeaway: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), where children compulsively try to avoid any demands and requests from other people. These are stressful, so avoiding them feels good. But only for a bit. Then the anxiety comes back even stronger and slowly takes over their lives. Thankfully PDA can be managed if diagnosed early enough. So, it’s worth consulting a specialist for an assessment and a custom care plan. Read More
How LEGO Therapy Uses ‘Play Time’ to Develop Your Child’s Social Skills
Takeaway: LEGO therapy is a fun, multisensory type of group play therapy that can help your child develop her social (and other) skills. Sessions happen at regular intervals (ideally every week), a facilitator guides the group through a semi-structured LEGO play session, and the children take turns trying out different roles. These roles and the club rules help your child expand her type of play and teaches her important skills that carry over into her everyday life. Read More
How to Unravel Your Child’s Back-to-School Stress and Anxiety
Takeaway: Going back to school after months of lockdown can be a strange experience for your child. But if you spot her stress and anxiety issues early, you can teach her valuable coping strategies. Strategies like breaking large problems into manageable chunks, exploring and learning to manage worst-case scenarios, and redirecting attention to notice the positive. Read More
School After Lockdown: 3 Challenges Your Child Will Need Help With
Takeaway: Most children are now used to the new-normal of lockdown. And this might make returning to school a little stressful. So, to help them adapt, (1) Get them back onto their pre-lockdown routine, (2) Talk to them about their anxieties, and (3) Teach them how to protect themselves from COVID-19. Read More
Is Your Child Anxious During This Pandemic? Here’s What You Can Do
Takeaway: Your child might be anxious, but this is a chance to teach her coping skills she can use for the rest of her life. The trick is to (1) Listen, watch, and stay available, (2) Be positive, calm, and reassuring, (3) Help her process what she hears, (4) Be honest and fact-based about what you tell her, (5) Teach her what she can do to stop germs from spreading.
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